Specific Standard of Behavior

Specific Standard of Behavior
To define psychological disorder more precisely, we must consider more specific standards of behavior – namely social norms and age norms.

Social norms
Behaviors are considered abnormal or normal only in some social context. Social norms are the expectations about how to behave that prevail in a particular social context, whether it is a culture, subculture, or everyday setting. Thus, hearing the “spirit” speak or seeing visions is defined as abnormal in the mainstream culture of North America, but among the plain Indian these “symptoms” have been defined as valued skills. Similarly, a child’s screaming and shouting may be viewed as a quite appropriate on the playground or in the backyard may be raised eyebrow when it is inappropriate in context – for example, when it occurs in the classroom or at church. Definitions of abnormal behavior vary from culture , from subculture to subculture, and from one historical period to another. In a very real sense, then, abnormality is in the eve of a particular group of beholders.

Age norms
Age norms is particularly important from a lifespan developmental perspective – abnormal behavior must be defined in relation to age norms, or societal expectations about what behavior is appropriate or normal at various ages. The 4-year-old boy, who frequently cries, acts impulsively, wets his bed, and talks to his imaginary friend may be perceived as – and may be perfectly normal. The 40 year old who does the same things has a problem. We simply cannot define abnormal behavior and development without having a solid grasp of normal behavior and development.
Specific Standard of Behavior

Abnormal behavior

It is the rare human being who makes it through the life span without having at least some difficulties adapting to the challenges of living. Each phase of the life span has own unique challenges, and some of us inevitably run into trouble mastering them. Criteria for diagnosing Psychological disorders.

Three broad criteria are often applied in diagnosing psychological disorders:

1. Statistical deviance
This is criterion used when individual are identified as mentally retarded, partly on the basis of their subaverage IQ scores. In other situations, a disorder is said to exist when otherwise normal behavior occur with great frequency, severity or persistence. Thus a mild and temporary case of would not be diagnosed as clinical depression because it is so statistically common, but more enduring and severe case might be.

2. Maladaptiveness
Two men might have the same thirst for a few beers after work, but one might be able to perform his job effectively and maintain close social relationship, whereas the other might repeatedly lose jobs and alienate family members because of his drinking. Maladaptive behavior also includes endangering others by behaving aggressively, as well as endangering oneself by attempting suicide.

3. Personal distress
Many common psychological disorders- for example, depression, anxiety disorders, and phobias – clearly involve a good deal of personal suffering. There are of concern for that reason alone.

Although these guidelines are a start at defining abnormal behavior, we may have noticed that they are not very specific. That is, they do not tell us precisely where the dividing line between normal and abnormal behavior can be found. What’s more, we must ask which forms of statistical deviation, which failures of adaptation, or which kind of personal distress are most significance. To define psychological disorder, we must consider more specific standards of behavior.